May 22 marks the International Day for Biological Diversity. The theme this year is focused on biodiversity as the foundation for our food and health, and as a key catalyst to transforming food systems and improving human health.
What we have done so far?
No matter which part of the world you live in, your nature is your biggest shelter. There is just one planet that we can all call home, and that is Earth. Unfortunately, over the past decade or so, we have witnessed the extinction of many different species of flora and fauna thanks to over-exploitation by us. If this continues, we too will soon become extinct.
The biodiversity on our plant is our biggest source of food and it contributes invaluably to human health. A very simple yet vital example would be that, as deforestation continues, we also cut back on the supply of clean oxygen we have for breathing, and water that we have to drink.
In the last century alone, more than 90 percent of crop varieties have disappeared from farmers’ fields. Half of the breeds of many domestic animals have been extinct, and all of the world’s 17 main fishing grounds are now being fished at their sustainable limits. This also means that locally-varied food production systems are being threatened. Agro-biodiversity is vanishing, and with it, indigenous food and medicine methods too. The loss of diverse and rich diets have led to many risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, malnutrition, and the availability of traditional medications.
How can we battle this?
For one thing, we can use eco-friendly products to reinforce the natural eco-systems that are there. Through the use of products like coir, coir peat, logs, pots and blankets, we give our planet a chance to fight back at soil erosion and maintain chances of staying fertile, allowing farmers to start their cultivations. This also leads to the prevention of landslides that can cause great damage.
The re-establishment and preservation of wetlands is another great example of how coir based products can restore the natural habitats of our biodiversity to its former strength and capacity. The more we use products that will only do good for nature, the more we ensure that our future generations have a planet to call home.
